The Power of Sisterhood

“But Ruth replied to her, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.” (Ruth 1:16)

In a world riddled by reality shows like “Love & Hip-Hop” and the “Real Housewives”, where envy, competition, jealousy, and drama rule the relationships between women, there is something to be said about women truly helping other women, truly supporting other women, and truly celebrating other women. It speaks volumes when women are like-minded; we can lean on each other during life’s greatest challenges AND we can celebrate each other in life’s greatest joys! It glorifies God when we are women who are there as accountability partners for each other, understanding that our sister may have flaws, but still choosing to love her anyway; understanding that she will fall many times but holding her up anyway; understanding that she’s not perfect but still seeing her through the perfect eyes of Christ anyway! It pleases Him when we are women who pray fervently for each other just as we would desire for someone to pray for us, when we don’t wrongly judge or criticize, but correct each other in love when needed, and when we push each other towards destiny with words of hope and courage.

I have been blessed to serve Bethany’s dance ministry for 18 years, which has been rooted in this power of sisterhood. I have overcome life’s darkest hours through the power of support and prayer from this great network of women. These special sisters honored the tears of pain that I shed during the dark hours because they understood the depths of my broken cries and submersed me in love and prayer. I have also celebrated life’s greatest joys in the midst of genuine cheers from this same network of women. The same love that covered me in my weakness leaped for joy in my strength. Now THAT’S power! This bond of sisterhood has indeed sown a seed of gratefulness in my heart that will last a lifetime.

If you find that your life is missing this connection, this bond to a genuine circle of women that will release this type of power, it may be time to come out of your shell and allow this great gift from God to find you. Your network of sisters is closer than you think. If you already have a network of sisters, make sure you nurture those relationships! They are a special gift to you from God Himself, designed to support you, celebrate you, rebuild you, and renew you. Power is knowing that we are all sisters and that we all need each other!

— Hawa Johnson

Reflect and Respond:

1. What if every time you looked into another woman’s eyes, you chose to look beyond what you see and you chose to truly SEE into her? Now use your power and extend it to her.